Improvement in stamp-cancelers



F. W. BROOKS.

Improvement in Stamp Cancelers.

was. y nw.

UNITED rA'rns FRANKLIN w. BROOKs, or new YORK, n. r.

lMPROVEMENT IN STAMP-CANCELERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 115,693, dated June 6, 1871.

I, FRANKLNW. BROOKS, of the city, county, and State of N ew York, have invented a new and Improved Applance'for Securing and Canceling Revenue and other Stamps, of which the following is a specification:

Noz-tare and Objects of the Invention.

usual way directly to the surface of the barrel or other package without interposing a metal plate beneath that part of the stamp to which the securing device is applied. To effect this object I employ one or more sheets or plates of metal adapted to puncture the paper of which the stamp iscomposed, and secured to the b arrel or other package by a fastening ci' such a character that it cannot possibly be withdrawn without mutilation of the stamp. My invention further consists in punching, stamping, or otherwise permanently marking on such securing-plate such characters as may be absolutely necessary for the identification of a particular stamp, such, for example, as the number of said stamp, date of payment, capacity of gage of package, name of kgager, or any one of these or other distinguishing marks. i

Description of the Accompanying Drawing.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a part of a barrel-head with a revenue-stamp and a cap-plate and rigid holding-plate applied to it. Fig. 2 is a section of the same at a' Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the cap-plates before application. Fig. et is a view of one of said plates with a rigid holding-plate of a modited form. Fig. 5 is a section at y y, Fig. 4. Fig. G is a side view of the plate as it is prepared for application to the stamp. Fig. 7 is a plan viewof a modified form Of the plate with a portion of the spines bent. Fig. 8 is a side view of the plate shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a side view of one form of the spike.

General Description.

A may represent a common revenue-stamp, and B a portion of the head of a barrel, to which it is to be stuck in the usual way; but

`before thus applying the stamp to the barrel my cap-plate O is applied to the stamp in the manner hereinafter described, or in vany substantially equivalent way to effect the same result. I prefer to form the plates C of thin sheet metal with one or more apertures having serrated margins forming spines o c, which may be readily driven through the paper of the stamp and bent or clinched on the opposite side, so as to hold the plate to the stamp `and prevent any motion of the plate when the stamp is in position without tearing and defacing the latter. The spines being turned perpendicularly to the plate, as shown at c in Fig. 6, may be then easily forced through the paper, and are then easily turned into the position shown in Fig. 2 without the requirement of any special tool forthe purpose. The

stamp may then be stuck upon a barrel or package as readily and effectually as if the plate were not used. For the purpose of rmly securing the plate C it is formed with a square or other non-circular' aperture, e, to receive a barbed or ilanged spike, B, the neck b of which is made to f1t said aperture in the plate, so that when the bolt is driven into the wood by hammering, screwing, or other means, it cannot be turned without turning the cap-plate also, and this will instantly deface the stamp by tearing out the paper contained within each circle or cluster of the spines c. The spike B is formed with barbs or iianges, which may either be adapted to preclude the possibility .of withdrawing it, or else to permit of its withdrawal only by turning it. This turningmay be eifected by a screwdriver or by any suitable key, and its first effect is to tear the stamp. For many purposes I prefer to make the said spike with non-spiral circumferential lian ges, as shown in Fig. 9, oblique or slanting on their lower surfaces, and either perpendicular to the axis of the spike or dovetailed at back. This construction adapts the spike to be readily driven in with a hammer, and, when in, to be easily turned, so as to tear the stamp; but it cannot be withdrawn without destroying some part of the appliance. When the said ianges are made spiral, so that the spike constitutes a screw, its square neck, by being held in a suitable plate, prevents the turning necessary to its withdrawal unless the plate be allowed tc'turn. This spike or holding appliance will hence be understoodl to admit of this modification in construction. When the an ges are made non-spiral the square or non-circular neck -Figs. 1 and 2. .Another modification of this device is seen in Figs. 4 and 5, where the rigid plate is shown with grooves or dovetailed recess on its lower surface, into which the thin plate C is slipped after being applied to the stamp. This vdoes not interfere with sticking the stamp directly to the barrel, and when the bolt B is driven in to hold the plates all is is secured. The turning of' the cap-plate C through the medium of the holding-spike or the rigid plate l), in either of these or any other suitable form, is useful for canceling the stamp by tearing out those parts embraced by the spines. Enough of the stamp is left uninjured to determine its genuineness. The manner of' marking the plate with a simple punch to indicate various particulars will be clearly understood by reference to the drawing. In the illustration given in Fig. l the barrel is supposed to be gaged as containing seventy-nine proof' gallons, and the tax to have been paid on the 15th day of January, 1871, these figures being punched out. The date and number on the stamp corresponding with those on the plate also afford means of identification; but in the event of these marks on the stamp being so soiled or marred as to become illegible, the marks on the plate will preserve the record with a permanence andv security which areimpos'sible under the usual mode of applying stamps. Pins or tacks e e, Fig. l may be applied in the corners of the plate to secure it against accidental turning before the stamp is to be canceled.

My invention may be used under a modied form, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The plate C is here made in the form of a disk with spines projecting from its periphery, so that they may be forced through the paper and turned over in the same manner as was explained with reference to the other form of the device. This disk being then secured by a barbed bolt, B', with angular neck fitting a central orice in the said plate will eiectually secure the stamp against removal in a whole state, and will afford means of' canceling the same in the manner already described, the turning of' the plate acting to out out a circular piece of the stamp, as before.

Claims.

I claim as my inventionl. A cap-plate, C, formed with spines to puncture and be turned down upon the under surface of' the stamp, and held by a flanged or barbed spike or screw, or other fastening, said appliances bein g constructed and arranged in any manner, substantially as herein explained, to permit the sticking of the stamp directly to the surface of the barrel or other package without the interposition of a metallic plate beneath'it, but eff'ectually prevent the removal of said stamp in a whole condition.

2. In a cap-plate, C, constructed and applied as above specified, the embossed tables shown in Fig. l, for the purpose of' permanently indicating the several particulars of date, number, and capacity, as explained.

FRANKLIN W. BROOKS.

Witnesses: v

ANTONIO C. GONZALEZ, N. BAUR. 

